WASHINGTON—Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration has awarded six grants through a competitive process totaling $1,916,927 to the Iowa Department of Transportation.
“These funds will help preserve these Iowa byways as well as promote tourism opportunities for the communities along the routes,” Grassley said.
The Iowa Department of Transportation will use the funds for projects as described below.
• Iowa Byways Signage Program will receive $580,000 to help implement the new signage program currently being developed which includes fabricating the signage and installing all signs on nine state byways and two national scenic byways. Signage will include byway entry signage, route-marking signage and signage directing travelers to planned and unplanned stops. The informative and clearly understandable signage should improve byway traveler safety by drastically reducing lost travelers and the need to make unintended and often dangerous stops and maneuvers.
• Great River Road will receive $760,007 to help construct the Mississippi River Eco Tourism Center to help educate and entertain tourists, families, schools and other and encourage them to explore Great River Road and Mississippi River heritage. Exhibits will include a 5,000 gallon aquarium, displays on the river ecosystem and wildlife, local rive and Great River Road history and will serve as a starting point for naturalist guided river cruises.
• Driftless Area Scenic Byway will receive $175,600 to help develop a corridor management plan that will guide future activities and direction along the Driftless Area Scenic Byway. The plan should maximize local community development and tourism opportunities by engaging local stakeholders.
• Loess Hills will receive $23,720 to help continue the implementation of work items identified in the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway’s corridor management plan. The project benefits the byway traveler by providing a strong leadership organization that is educated and informed that will protect and enhance the Byway and provide a good experience for the traveler.
• Western Skies Scenic Byway will receive $188,800 to help develop a corridor management plan for the Western Skies Scenic Byway. The plan will help identify the intrinsic qualities that draw visitors to the corridor as well as develop strategies for enhancing and protecting those intrinsic qualities.
• River Bluffs Scenic Byway will receive $188,800 to help develop a corridor management plan for the River Bluffs Scenic Byway to direct future activities along the byway corridor to conserve, enhance and promote the intrinsic qualities to maximize local community development and tourism.